Implement and method for preparing and maintaining dirt arena footing

ABSTRACT

An implement is disclosed for smoothing grounds that include at least a compact base having a top surface and a lesser compact footing on top of the base. The implement includes a frame having a front portion, a central portion, a rear portion, and a width. Wheels are mounted for rotation directly to the frame, and tools are carried by the frame for engagement with the ground. The tools include a specially shaped cleaving blade connected to the rear portion of the frame by a tool support, which securely connects the cleaving blade at predetermined heights. The blade has a front shaving edge and a rear compressing edge. The blade extends straight across the width of the frame so as to maximize the drag displaced on the frame during use of the blade. Arrangement of the wheels directly on the frame provides optimal stabilization of the frame during operation of the blade.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/158,760,filed on Jun. 13, 2011 which is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 12/248,974, filed Oct. 10, 2008, which claims the filing dateof provisional patent application 60/978,869, filed Oct. 10, 2007 andwhich is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/539,065, filed Oct.5, 2006 and of application Ser. No. 11/445,500, filed Jun. 1, 2006. Thepresent application claims priority to and the benefit of all of theaforementioned applications. The disclosures of each the aforementionedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to implements for preparing the soil and, moreparticularly, to an implement and method for improving and maintainingdirt arena footing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

At equine events it is important that the underlying soil upon which thehorses perform is prepared properly. A powdered mixture of loosened soilseveral inches thick is desired with the underlying base of the soilbeing relatively smooth without any form of a ridged profile. In thismanner, the animal may have a firm footing, especially in cases whereit's desirable for a horse to stop, slide, spin, and/or turn. Otherwise,serious injury can result to the animal's hoofs or tendons. As horsebreeders select longer and thinner legs as preferable traits in equineanimals and the direct correlation between firm footing and performanceis better understood, this problem has become one of urgent focus.

Some tow-behind implements and methods have been provided for preparingthe ground, but arena drags heretofore available use some form ofloosening teeth to attempt to soften the arena floor. These priorimplements include perpendicular spring-loaded shovels, S tines, chainharrow teeth, ripping or scarifying teeth, and grooming rods, all ofwhich leave potentially injurious ridges in the footing material and/orbase. Additionally, to accomplish the desired result, numerous passesover the same path using different corresponding tools may be necessary.This can take significant amounts of time before obtaining optimalfooting.

It also has been observed that prior soil loosening apparatus andmethods for the purposes set forth above work the soil from thetop-down. Inasmuch as the depth of the soil worked cannot always bedetermined using top-down methods, soil grade depths that are preferablyleft undisturbed are, instead, often violated. When using previous soilworking implements, the scarifying members as ripping teeth, forexample, not only leave deep rooted ridges in the underlying base of thesoil, which provides an uneven surface having the capacity to injure,but devices that work the soil from the top down fail to sufficientlyflocculate the desired amount of powdered mixture of soil for forming athick cushion on top of the base.

Thus, there remains a need for a new soil working implement and methodfor optimally preparing and maintaining the footing material of a dirtarena. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the broader aspects, the invention provides an implement forpreparing and maintaining the ground surface of a dirt arena for optimalfooting by equine animals. The ground includes at least a compact basehaving a top surface and a lesser compact footing on top of the base.The implement includes a frame having a front portion, a centralportion, and a rear portion. The frame is adapted for towing behind avehicle along a path. Wheels are mounted for rotation directly to theframe; and the frame carries tools for engagement with the ground.

In one aspect, a cleaving blade is connected to the rear portion of theframe by a tool support, which securely connects the cleaving blade atpredetermined heights.

In another aspect, the blade has a front shaving edge for shaving thetop surface of the base and a rear compressing edge for compressing thetop surface of the base.

In another aspect, the cleaving blade is straight and extends across thewidth of the frame so as to maximize the drag displaced on the frameduring use of the blade. The compressing force of the compressing actionof the blade is optimal as a result.

In yet another aspect, the tools include a front leveling blade forpushing ground to fill indentions to form a level surface so that thewheels provide optimal stabilization of the frame during operation ofthe blade. A rear comb may also be adjustably attached to the rearportion of the frame for flocculating the ground to produce a smoothcushioning footing on top of the base.

In still another aspect, the blade has a cross section shaped so as todefine a portion between the front edge and the rear edge. The portionincludes an underneath surface, and the underneath surface does notcontact the top surface of the base when the front shaving edge or therear compressing edge or both the front shaving edge and the rearcompressing edge is (or are) in contact with the top surface of the baseduring operation of the implement.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved soilworking implement capable of slicing, lifting, and aerating the footingof a dirt arena to produce a smooth solid compressed base without ridgesand with a flocculated cushioning grade on top of the base. It is alsodesirable that such an implement achieve such results upon a single passof the tractor. Related objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of the invention, both as to its structure and operation,may be obtained by a review of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the soil workingimplement of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the soil working implementcoupled to a tractor showing the ranges of motion of the comb and thesupport member;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the soil working implement ina working position showing the operation of the cleaving blade; and

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the soil workingimplement of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, specific embodiments have been described. It shouldnevertheless be understood that the description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive in character, and that no limitation ofthe scope of the invention is intended. Any alterations and furthermodifications in the described components, elements, processes, ordevices, and any further applications of the principles of the inventionas described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to oneskilled in the art to which the invention relates.

An implement 10 for preparing the ground surface is shown in thedrawings. The implement 10 includes a main frame 20 having a frontportion 22, a central portion 24, and a rear portion 26. Frame 10 mayinclude a three point hitch, shown in FIG. 2, or another known hitchdevice for attaching frame 10 to a vehicle 5. The exemplary three pointhitch illustrated is pivotally connected to implement 10 by actuators,which may be manual such as actuator 15 connected at pivot connection 12or hydraulic cylinders 17 as connected at pivot connections 14 and 16 sothe frame 20 may be adjusted in relation to the ground and towed behindvehicle 5 along a path. The three point hitch is preferably capable oflifting frame 20, including wheels 60, completely off the ground fortransporting implement 10 between work sites.

Referring to the figures, in one embodiment, the front portion 22 offrame 20 includes front tool supports 23 formed of tubular steel withbores 27 extending through them for receiving pins to secure levelingblade 70 at the desired height. Leveling blade 70 has elongate arms 76,which are apertured for alignment with bores 27 and securing with pins.In the exemplary embodiment, blade 70 spans beyond the width of frame 20and past the distance defined between the outside surfaces of wheels 60.Wheels 60 are mounted for rotation, directly or indirectly, to centralportion 24 of frame 20. Wheels 60 may be foam-filled or, preferably,air-filled rubber tires with sealed bearings to optimally stabilize theframe and prevent bouncing and/or swaying of frame 20. More preferably,tires measuring between about sixteen and twenty inches in diameter arepreferred for optimal stabilization of a steel frame 10 measuringapproximately four feet in length and six to ten feet in width andweighing between about 500 and 1,000 pounds.

In the embodiment shown, central portion 24 of frame 20 includesrearwardly extending mounting blocks 25. Mounting blocks have aperturesfor receiving a pin, which joins winged support member mounts 40 atsupport member pivots 43, as shown in FIG. 4. This enables the rearportion of the frame (and any tools carried thereby) to adjust to suddenchanges in operation that may or may not be intended. Hitting a rock isan example. Behind wheels 60, the rear portion 26 of the frame includesa support member 30 having a front side 31 and a rear side 33. Thesupport member includes a tool support for securely connecting thecleaving blade 80 at predetermined heights. Cleaving blade 80 is asubstantial aspect of the invention.

In the embodiment shown, the rear side 33 includes rear tool supports 83that securely connect the cleaving blade 80 at predetermined heights. Inthat embodiment, the heights are located in a plan that is transverse tothe top surface of the base. In another embodiment (not shown), fronttool supports 23 connect in cleaving blade 80 to the front portion ofthe frame. In that embodiment, blade 80 functions substantially the samemanner as described below. The tool supports shown at 83 (and 23) areformed of tubular steel with bores 87 extending through them forreceiving pins 89 to secure the arms 86, which include bores foraligning with bores 87 of cleaving blade 80 at the desired height so theblade can cleave the soil at any one of at least two levels below theground surface 110. In one embodiment, the cleaving blade 80 has abeveled front so that when oriented as depicted in FIG. 3 the blade 80cuts and lifts the soil so that the soil is aerated before it'sdeposited on top of the base 120.

In one embodiment, the cleaving blade 80 includes a front shaving edge81 for shaving the top surface 130 of base 120. In the same or anotherembodiment, the cleaving blade 80 includes a rear compressing edge 83for compressing the top surface 130 of base 120. The profile of thecleaving blade should be such that it functions to shave on the frontand compress at its rear edge accordingly. In at least one embodiment,the cleaving blade has a cross section shaped so as to define a portion84 between the front edge 81 and rear edge 83, as best depicted in FIGS.1 and 4. Portion 84 includes an underneath surface 85. In thatembodiment, the underneath surface 85 does not contact the top surface130 of the base 120 when the front shaving edge 81 or the rearcompressing edge 83 or both 81, 83 is/are in contact with the topsurface 130 of the base 120 during operation of the implement.

Unlike prior blades such as the ones described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,909,335; 5,285,854; and 599,093, in addition to a cutting function,the inventive blade 80 has a compressing function, which “finishes” thetop surface 130 unlike heretofore possible. In one embodiment, thecleaving blade 80 is straight and extends across the width of the frameso as to maximize the drag force displaced on the frame during use ofthe blade 80. The compressing force delivered to the top surface 130 ofthe base 120 by way of the compressing edge 83 is optimal as a result.In at least one embodiment, blade 80 may be a pair of blades inside-by-side alignment so as to function as a continuous blade extendingsubstantially across the width of the frame 20. The combination of thestraight shape of the blade 80 (as opposed to pointed, curved, stepped,or other) and the placement, type and size of wheels 60 ensures optimalstabilization of the frame and hence optimal control of the cleaving(and compressing) blade 80. The top surface 130 of the base 120 may thusbe shaved and compressed in one pass as heretofore not possible.

Those skilled in the art may intuit other embodiments and designs forimplements employing applicant's novel aspects. One exemplary tool mayinclude a comb. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a comb 90 havingan upper portion 93 with downwardly extending tines 91 is removablysecured to the rear side 33 of the support member 30. A coupling member95 with elongated coupling arms 96 is secured by known means to theupper portion 93 of the comb. The arms 96 include ends with boresextending through them. A pair of opposite tubular stock steel members100 upstanding from the rear side 33 of the support member 30 receivesthe arms 96. Bores 101 align with the bores (not shown) in the ends ofthe arms 96 to receive pins 102 so comb 90 is removably and pivotallysecured to rear side 33 of support member 30. Comb 90 “floats” on theground surface as a result at any one of a plurality of angles relativeto the ground surface between an upper position and a lower positiondefined, respectively, by the top and bottom surfaces 97, 99 of slot 98.In this embodiment, the particular angle at which comb 90 contacts theground surface is determined by the orientation of support member 30 onsupport member pivot 43 (FIG. 4), which may be adjusted by an adjustablelink 50 connected between the frame 20 and the support member 30, asdescribed below.

Manually operated adjustable link 50 is for adjusting the orientation ofthe member 30 relative to the central portion 24 at support memberpivots 43. The link 50 may be adapted for remote electromechanicaloperation as known in the art. In the example illustrated, link 50includes a front portion 53 connected to ears 28 of the central portion24 of the frame at a first pivot 52 by pin 51. With reference to all ofthe figures, the rear portion 55 of the link is pivotally connected atsecond pivot 54 in a similar manner as the front portion to a centraltubular steel member 100 upstanding from the rear side 33 of the supportmember 30. Rotating handle 57 moves the central portion 50 to and froalong the longitudinal axis of link 50, which adjusts the orientation ofthe support member 30 on support member pivot 43. In some embodiments,at least part of the control of the shaving and/or compressing functionsof the blade 80 are achieved as the profile angle of blade 80 changesrelative to top surface 130 of base 120. In the same or otherembodiment(s), manual (or automatic) adjustment within tool supports 83control the shaving and or compressing functions of the blade 80.

In operation, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a method of preparing theground surface 110 by the exemplary towing implement 10 along a pathbehind a vehicle 5 will be described. The ground includes at least base120 with top surface 130 and footing 140 on top of the base. The frame20 may be stabilized by producing a substantially level grade surface114 upon which the frame supporting and stabilizing wheels 60 maytravel. The ground surface 110 is pushed with leveling blade 70, whichspans beyond the width of the outer sides of the wheels 60 to fill anyindentions 112. The surface upon which wheels 60 contact the groundsurface, therefore, is a substantially level grade surface 114, whichprevents the frame from bouncing and swaying while in tow.

Next, in one step, the cleaving blade 80 shaves, lifts and aerates soilfrom the top surface 130 up over the portion 84 of the blade 80. Blade80 may be positioned as shown in FIG. 3 so that both the front shavingedge 81 and the rear compressing edge 83 are, respectively, shavingand/or compressing the top surface 130 of base 120. Adjustable link 50may be rotated as described above to control the profile angle of theblade 80. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, upon rotation of handle 57,support member 30 and thus cleaving blade 80 can be oriented upon pivot43. Blade 80 can shave the top surface 130 to free up footing that hasbeen compacted thereon by animal hooves, or the shaving edge 81 may beused to slightly shave the base 120 below the top surface 130 to definea new top surface (not shown). Optionally, or in combination with theshaving edge 81 of blade 80, the compressing edge 83 of blade 80 cancompress the top surface accordingly.

In one embodiment, the cleaving blade 80 is straight and extends acrossthe width of the frame so as to maximize the drag force displaced on theframe during use of the blade 80. The compressing force delivered to thetop surface 130 of the base 120 by way of the compressing edge 83 isoptimal as a result. In at least one embodiment, blade 80 may be a pairof blades in side-by-side alignment so as to function as a continuousblade extending substantially across the width of the frame 20. Thecombination of the straight shape of the blade 80 (as opposed topointed, curved, stepped, or other) and the placement, type and size ofwheels 60 ensures optimal stabilization of the frame and hence optimalcontrol of the cleaving (and compressing) blade 80. The top surface 130of the base 120 may thus be shaved and compressed in one pass asheretofore not possible.

The footing 140 is then optionally flocculated by comb 90 to produce asubstantially level finished ground surface having a substantiallysmooth solid base 120 with a flocculated cushioning grade 150 on top ofthe base. Comb 90 floats upon the ground surface at an angle, asdescribed above. The described footing surface is much improved overthat which has been available before the novel implement 10, and theresults may be obtained with a single pass of the tractor, which savestime and labor.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredillustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that theembodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specificationin satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It isunderstood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make anearly infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to theabove-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attemptto describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification.Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications thatcome within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: positioning a groundworking apparatus on an area of ground to be worked, the apparatusincluding a frame having a width, a length and a height, a plurality ofground contacting members rotatably coupled with the frame at spacedapart locations along the width of the frame, and a cleaving bladecoupled with the frame, the cleaving blade including a shaving edge anda compressing edge extending along the width of the frame, a lengthextending from the shaving edge to the compressing edge, a widthextending along the width of the frame, and a height extending from anupper surface to a lower surface, the width being greater than thelength, and the height being less than the width and the length; withthe frame supported a spaced apart distance above the area of ground tobe worked, operating an actuator to move the cleaving blade from a firstposition in which the cleaving blade is positioned above the area ofground to a second position in which the cleaving blade is positionedbelow the area of ground with the upper surface facing upward toward theframe and being positioned at a first angle relative to a plane that isparallel with an upper surface of the area of ground, the first anglepositioning the upper surface of the cleaving blade parallel to saidplane and positioning the shaving edge and the compressing edge an equaldistance from said plane; and moving the apparatus along the area ofground to be worked such that the shaving edge shaves a portion of theground which passes over the cleaving blade and the compressing edgecompresses a portion of the ground which has passed under the shavingedge.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising operating the actuator to movethe cleaving blade to a third position in which the cleaving blade ispositioned below the ground with the upper surface facing upward towardthe frame and being positioned at a second angle relative to said plane.3. The method of claim 2 comprising moving the apparatus along the areaof ground to be worked with the cleaving blade in the third positionsuch that the shaving edge shaves a portion of the ground which passesover the cleaving blade and the compressing edge compresses a portion ofthe ground which has passed under the shaving edge, and the compressionby the compression edge when the cleaving blade is in the third positionis greater than when the cleaving blade is in the second position. 4.The method of claim 1 wherein the ground working apparatus includes aleveling blade coupled with the frame and extending along the width ofthe frame, the method comprising positioning the leveling blade toextend into the ground surface to a second depth, the second depth beingless than the depth of the cleaving blade below the ground surface whenthe cleaving blade is in the second position, wherein during the act ofmoving the leveling blade levels the ground at a location in advance ofthe cleaving blade.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the area of groundincludes a lesser compact footing on top of a compact base, and whereinduring the act of moving, the shaving edge shaves a portion of thecompact base, the shaved portion of the compact base passes over thecleaving blade, and the compressing edge compresses the shaved portionof the compact base.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein when the cleavingblade is in the third position the cleaving blade positioned at an anglesuch that the compressing edge of the cleaving blade is positioned at agreater depth below the ground than the shaving edge.
 7. The method ofclaim 6 wherein when the cleaving blade is in the second position thecleaving blade positioned at an angle such that the compressing edge ofthe cleaving blade is positioned at a greater depth below the groundthan the shaving edge.
 8. The method of claim 7 comprising adjusting thedistance of the cleaving blade relative to the frame without use of atool by removing a plurality of coupling members which extend throughand couple a support member with a plurality of arms extending from thecleaving blade, moving the plurality of arms relative to the supportmember, and inserting the plurality of coupling members to extendthrough and couple the support member with a plurality of arms.